All Stories

  1. Genetics

    Europe’s oldest known humans mated with Neandertals surprisingly often

    DNA from ancient fossils suggests interbreeding regularly occurred between the two species by about 45,000 years ago, two studies find.

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  2. Particle Physics

    Muon magnetism could hint at a breakdown of physics’ standard model

    After two decades, a new measurement of the muon magnetic anomaly reinforces earlier hints that its value disagrees with standard physics.

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  3. Animals

    Tiny crystals give a plain fish twinkling, colorful dots under light

    Fishes’ flashing photonic crystals may provide inspiration for ultra-miniaturized sensors that work in a living body.

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  4. Life

    Yawning helps lions synchronize their groups’ movements

    A lion yawn is contagious, and when lions start yawning together, they start moving together. Synchronization may be key for group hunters like lions.

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  5. Tech

    ‘Pipe Dreams’ flushes out hope in an unexpected place: the toilet

    A new book shows how reimagined toilets will allow humans to use pee and poop as natural resources.

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  6. Earth

    A spike in Arctic lightning strikes may be linked to climate change

    Global warming may be revving up summer thunderstorms in the Arctic, leading to skyrocketing numbers of lightning strikes.

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  7. Humans

    New depictions of ancient hominids aim to overcome artistic biases

    Artists’ intuition instead of science drive most facial reconstructions of extinct species. Some researchers hope to change that.

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  8. Physics

    Newly made laser-cooled antimatter could test foundations of modern physics

    Physicists have finally used laser cooling to tame unruly antimatter atoms. That could allow new tests of symmetry and Einstein’s theory of gravity.

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  9. We revisit last year’s COVID-19 questions, readers weigh in on tuataras and more

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  10. Celebrating 100 years of unbiased journalism

    Maya Ajmera reflects on her tenure as publisher of Science News and celebrates its 100 years of unbiased journalism.

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  11. Materials Science

    Microscopic images reveal the science and beauty of face masks

    Important insights into the particle-filtering properties of different fabrics also offer a sense of the unseen, textured world of face masks.

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  12. Science & Society

    We’ve covered science for 100 years. Here’s how it has — and hasn’t — changed

    Today’s researchers pursue knowledge with more detail and sophistication, but some of the questions remain the same.

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